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How pols are pinching pennies

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“I tell my kids, now is a great time to buy a house, and it’s a great time to buy a car, because prices are down so much,” Isakson said. “But I warn them, don’t reach out too far and take on too much risk, because we’ve still got to wait and see how this all works out.”

Since Rep. Maxine Waters’ niece lost her job as a clerk, the California Democrat and her husband regularly donate a portion of their income to help her scrape by.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) says this year’s grueling House schedule has kept her out of the mall.

“What I’d like is more time, not more money,” she said.

Chaffetz, the freshman Republican from Utah, is the only working member of his family. He said he’s saved $175 a month by refinancing his house back home — and he’s famously avoided paying rent in Washington by sleeping in his office.

The downside: “The Zambonis cruise down the hall in the middle of the night making loud beeping noises,” Chaffetz said. “And usually the cleaning crew wears earbuds, but recently they’ve been bringing a good old-fashioned boombox.”Campaign strategists say the public wants to see proof that politicians “get it.” That — and an expected drop-off in contributions — may mean some more-modest-than-usual campaigns for 2010: less TV advertising, more Internet ads, more volunteer campaign workers and fewer flashy events.

“We’re going to have to be sensitive. A lot of people have lost their jobs,” said Holt, who’s working with Republican businessman Beau Bromberg, a challenger to Democratic Rep. Zack Space.

Holt says the recession will affect the positions candidates talk about and where they go to talk about them; he said Bromberg is planning an extra-heavy travel schedule, allowing voters to travel as little as possible to meet him.

Candidates have been advised to lower their top donation request to $1,000 from the usual maximum of $2,300, and even lobbyists say they’re being more careful about the appearance of lavish spending.

“The days of champagne and caviar are over,” said Democratic lobbyist and fundraiser Tony Podesta. “Excess will not be welcome, and it can actually be hurtful to candidates. This is a difficult era. People will be responsive to that.”

“If you’re struggling to raise money in the cycle, follow the golden rule: Don’t buy crap,” said Ben Goldfarb, training programs director at Wellstone Action, a progressive leadership organization. “Lawn signs, bobble heads and doggie sweaters with the candidate’s name on it should not be supported by the campaign.”

Wellstone Action is also urging candidates to do more advertising work in-house — including direct mail and other fundraising letters — rather than hiring expensive outside firms to handle the job.

Americans could save billions if we started to elect so-called "representatives' that actually represent our interests instead of squandering trillions on foolish programs that are geared toward special interest groups and keeping these idiots in office .... the very same people that have caused our financial problems are the very same people we are supposed to believe are going to find solutions for the problems .... not thanks, I could get 434 people out of a crowd I've never met and we could solve our nations fiscal problems and a whole host of other problems w/o all the drama.

AND when is Congress and the President going to take a look at THEIR expenses and how they manage the tax money we send them to run the government?

Chris Dodd is pinching pennies by searching for another sweetheart mortgage and vilifying private sector achievers. Marblemouth Frank is pinching pennies by demanding a cut of Steve Gobe's new male prostitution ring run from his basement. Leona Helmsley Pelosi is pinching pennies by demanding 575's every other week instead of every week for her trips to her vineyards, restaurants, etc. in CA John Kerry is pinching pennies by using the same wind surfer instead of buying a new one, and by keeping his marriage to the 2nd billionaire intact Ted Kennedy is pinching pennies by continuing to keep the Kennedy trust money off shore. Shucku Fumer is pinching pennies by telling Americans "we don't care about earmarks". The Diapered One is pinching pennies by managing a complete takeover of the American society, and by having Michelle's mother live off the taxpayers as well. Not to mention spending less on Head of State gifts, such as DVDs that don't play on British players.

It's interesting to read, if you can find the BURIED stories, the fairly extensive amount of entertaining the Obama's are doing in the White House. This week, 200 people to celebrate Greek independence with a menu that had to cost a huge amount of money. i don't know about the readers here, but my family vegetable garden doesn't have a gardner staff to tend it. Nor do we have a weekend house we access via a taxpayer funded helicopter. In fact, we don't even expect the taxpayers to pick up the cost for the parents who live with us.

They knew what the job was when they took it....at least the have gas and can shop ...we are lucky just to have enough for some groceries.....maybe they should just get $500,000 for a children's book that is not even written yet like the prez....or keep giving cocktail parties in the middle of the week or vacation every weekend......what a hard job he has...it's only money...of course ours